Electrical actuation means for valves or the like



J 1954 R. c. CHURCHMAN 2,666,167

ELECTRICAL ACTUATION MEANS FOR VALVES OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 15, 1951 AUTOMATIC 29 6h 7'CH OUTLET 5 ram 6 e TANK COMPRESSOR ELECTRIC C'ONTACTS AoroMAr/c 23 5M TCH TIME LIMIT )4 "l l HEA Tare 50L ENO/D MAG/V5 We con.

Q/ d Wgzagl s zfwey Patented Jan. 12, 1 954 UNIT-ED T AT E S PATENT OFF-ICE eTizren-hewvmos MEANS FOR VALVES OR THE LIKE iitossu c. iinuiiiiiian, deceased, late or Des iMdines, Iowa, I'Nellie Churchman, xe'cutrlx,

nseam this amilication Fcbruar'y fiafi'esnse arse-211,15

s-oiaims, (01. 317-141 'df aisolenoid to iprcvide :a time controlswitch 1 within an electric circuit.

ore specifically i't 'zis ithe -a'im cof ith'is envent'i'on to provide an electric fazituat'ron means :i or ractaatm :a given number, with the electric actuation means-connectedmo :acnain circuit by whioh other independent imembers rare actuated and ":by-mrofiding a *time oontrol :switch #the electric actuation means-so that the member to b'e actuated ceases to he actuated saitter ".a spreidetei mined iperliod without interfering aviithwthe operation of the' dther independent imembers in the circuit.

' A iurther obtiect ofithi'srinventi'onns to {provide in therelectric'nctiiationmams'iabove set iorth, ia meims to' break ithe'zcomiectiom Efrem the main circuit-tonne iele'ctiicnctnation :means after the time control switch has broken the c'onnection to-the a'ctuat'e'd'rinemloer iand therebyiprovides a means whei'eby'tlre member'to be actuatedsby this electrical actuation means"fis actuated only onceueach mime icurreiitflows athroug'h *theimain. rcircuit.

Still "further objects ocf this iare ito provide an electrical actuation 'means having the icharacteristics above set iiorth that is autoanatic "Lin operation, ecchemicalito -manutacture, durable and ieflicierrt'in illSflffifiSYtO install, maintain and adtust.

'lhese'ran'd other objects will beanparent t'o 'thosefski'lled iin'vthe'nnt.

FDhe invention rcorrsistsiin -"the construction, arrangemerrhnnd combination of the various parts of the rdevsice, "whereby" the :objects contemplated miteiattained as Ihereinafler'more fully setfor-th, pointed out in the claimsfiand.illustratedin "the iacoompanying'cdrawings, an whichz i Eii'gJfl-isknn enlarged el'evational viewaof this electrical-actuation means andeshowingan-arirangement of a compression system partly in secition and partly diagrammatically to illustrate-one mseiior'tthisidevicerand Mg. :2 iis-ianielevationalview of the hinged arms of "the electrical Iactuation 'imBZlIlS -:showirig "the arms in their fully separated iposition.

'While devicezcan -be adaptedfor nnany uses, its operation will bemore readily understood byrillustratingpone specific use. For this .punpose it shownin connection with drainigig :moisture fiiem'a, storage tank in a compressed system and a diagrammatic representation :of-the compressed airasystem iisshown in Fig. 1. When air is compressed, water vapor, condenses and accumulates in liquid form in the bottom of "2 the storage tank. :Formany reasons which are notshere material, ltris desirable to eliminatesthis water from the tank and to accomplish this end, this electrical actuation means 'ca'n perform an important function which will be apparent item the "disclosure to becm-aele.

Referring now to :the drawings, the numeral m designates {generally the electrical actuation means which may 'be mounted on a supporting member II which "in turn :is supported 'on 'a-ny member where an-actuationiaction :is desired. and in the present instance :is shown mounted on the valve I2 as by screw threads I3 which will be referred to later. The 'elec'trlcal actuation means IE] connects electrically wi-thran automatic switch itsand =el'ectric'vcurrent'flows to ithe' dlem trical actna-tion vmeans All at '-ithe same ietime it flows to iany-other .ii-zndependent smemher etc the operated thereby, which os :i'llustrated shone ans being-'a compr'essor andimotorilfi. :Mounted-nn supporting-member I I isran 'electricallylin fiuenced member whichzin the gpresent instance i faunas- 'neticcoil t5 connected electricallywithi the'iantomaticswitch l4. 'lillectric current -.-flo'w'ing :inte magnetic =coil I 66 m'a'gnetiz'es "projecting more II which is roundedon' top as imoreaclearlyshown in Fig. 2. Mounted on the-zother:side'rif sirpnorting' member ll I; oppositewrnazginetic 'co'il Iii IiS *an-e other electrically influenced member 1:8, which in the present-instance is-a solenoid. Thesole- :noid ha s-fa more member deaths-rein, which core member -I i9 :is moved downwardly :by :the solenoid 18 when-energized -towactuate :emy'given member, -.-i-llustrated -.here as the valve -42 'that will *be laterdescribed. Connected'rigidly' -tothe top of core number "48- and-snpported -.therehy is an arm memb er Q l havin'gzaisecond arm mem b'er 22 hingedlyconnected to Farm-22lat 23. .Arm :21 has an electrical contact member "24 connected to the end -1thereof while arm 2-2 has =cont-act member 25 rig idly connectedthereto and'aspring i-fi between :arms 21 and 2 2 keepszoontact-xmembers 24 and 25 in engagement. The --contact member 25 sis eonnected electrically with :the saufitomat'ic :switch M and is supplied electric --'cu1'- rent :at the same' time electric current is-su.pplied a memberillustrated by thecompressor "t5. ':A time limit switch :member #21 connects std-the solenoid til'rand conductordt to the'eonta'ctzrpoint 24 :so that when the oints Mend-2'25 areiin engg'agement,--electric;:current will flow-;from switch I ll 4 through spcint =25 to {point $213 and through the conductor lhand the time switch-21 to the solenoidl-B. The switch memberil has a'thermostatic member that is heated-by-1electric current passing therethrough expands -to actuate the switchwmeans =to close-o1:- flow-10f electric current to-thesolenoid member is. The thermostatic =member-can be made to 'allow any-ztime interval desired-in whicheth-e core 19 Willi-move to actuate any given-member.

A compressor l5 furnishes compressed air through conduit 29 to a storage tank 3% where it is distributed for use through pipe 31. A conduit 32 connects pressure storage tank 36 with automatic switch I4 and automatic switch I4 is so constructed as to be influenced by the air pressure in pressure storage tank 36. It is the usual practice to maintain air pressure in stor age tank 30 at a given maximum pressure. When the pressure of air in storage tank 3i} reaches this maximum, it is exerted through conduit 32 against automatic switch I4 to close oil the automatic switch I4 from supplying electric current to compressor I5 thus stopping the compressing operation. As air is withdrawn from storage tank 3:? for use, the pressure in storage tank is reduced and is likewise reduced in conduit 32. When pressure in storage tank 33 and conduit 32 reaches a predetermined low, automatic switch I4 will make contact, allowing electric current to flow to compressor I5 and thus set the compressing operation in operation until pressure in storage tank 33 again reaches the maximum. This operation is standard.

Moisture will accumulate in the tank 3|] from the compression of air and it is desirable to remove it. In this connection the electrical actuation means described above is usable to automatically actuate the valve I2 for accomplishing that purpose.

The valve shown generally at I2 comprises a body 33 and an inlet 34 into which conduit 35 connects at one end and at its other end joins storage tank 30. An outlet 36 is provided. to receive the conduit 31 which conduit leads to a point of disposal for any accumulated water drained from storage tank 30. A passage 38 runs through the valve body 33 from inlet 34 to outlet 36 to establish a conduit through the valve body 33. Within the valve body 33 is a tapered seat 3:? to receive tapered plunger 40 in sealing arrangement to close off passage 38 through the valve body 33. Spring 4| urges the plunger 49 into sealing engagement with seat 33. The plunger 40 has an extension rod 42 extending u wardly through the valve body 33 and outside thereof to contact an actuation means for unseating the valve plunger 40 from the seat portion 39. Spring- 4| always tends to urge the plunger into closed position or into engagement with seat 40 to close off passage 38. A screw member 43 may fit across passage 38 in the outlet side of the valve body 33 and may be screwed in or out of the valve body 33 to restrict or enlarge the size of passage. In the compressed air system described, this electrical actuation means is mounted on the valve body 33 so that the core I9 can engage the top of extension rod 42 at times.

In operation, when electric current is supplied compressor I5, electric current also flows to magnetic coil I6, thus magnetizing projecting core I! and electric current also flows to electric contact member 25. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, contact member 24 is in engagement with contact member 25 hence electric current is conducted from contact member 25 to contact member 24, through conductor 28 to a time limit controlled switch member 21. The switch member 21 has a thermostatic member that is heated by electric current passing therethrough and expands to actuate the switch means 21 to close ofi flow of electric current to the solenoid member I8. The thermostatic member can be made to allow any time interval desired to hold valve I2 open to drain accumulated moisture from the tank 30. Conductor 28 after con- 4 heating to the time limit control switch 21 connects into solenoid I8 to furnish electric current to the solenoid I3 when time limit control switch 21 is in contact.

When electric current does not flow to the solenoid I8, it is no longer energized hence core member I9 moves upward to the position shown in Figure 2. When the solenoid is energized, core member I9 is pulled downward, contacting extension rod 42 to unseat plunger 40 from seat 39 to thus open passage 38 through the valve and allow accumulated water in storage tank 30 to drain to a disposal point through conduit 31. The plunger 40 is held unseated for a predetermined interval while air under pressure in storage tank 30 forces accumulated moisture through conduit 35, the valve and conduit 31. The screw 43 may hangulated in passage 38 to enlarge or restrict passage 38 .to be sure all moisture is removedfrom storage tank 30 during the interval the valve is open. When solenoid I8 is no longer energized, core member I9 is moved upwardly and spring 4| forces plunger 40 into closed position across passage 33. i

When time controlled switch 21 closes off electric current to solenoid I8, after the predetermined time interval has elapsed, electric current is still being supplied to the magnetic coil I6. The core member I9 moves upwardly about onequarter inch and the arm member 2| being rigidly attached thereto moves upwardly also. Since the projecting core I1 is still magnetized, it holds arm 22 and will not let arm 22 move upwardly, hence in order for arm 2| to move upwardly arm 22 must hinge about point 23. As seen in Figure 2, the upward movement of arm member 2| separates contact members 24 and 25 hence no electric current can pass to the solenoid until the contact members 24 and 25 are back in engagement again.

The arm members 2| and 22 remain in the position shown in Figure 2 for the time electric current is supplied to compressor I5 or until automatic switch I4 closes off. When this occurs no more electric current is furnished magnetic coil I6 and in turn projecting core I1 is no longer magnetized. Spring 26 then pulls arm 22 upwardly until contact members 24 and 25 are in engagement and the mechanism In is all set to operate again when automatic switch I4 is again. actuated by a pressure drop in storage tank 39. Electric current again passes to magnetic coil I6 and magnetizes projecting core I'I; solenoid I8 is energized thus pulling core member I9 downwardly and also bringing arm 22 into engagement with the projecting core II. This completes the cycle of operation as the device is back to the position shown in Figure 1.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the electrical actuation means for a valve or the like and method of making same without departing from the real spirit and purpose of the invention, audit is intended to cover by the claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within'their scope.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a main electric circuit used to operate a separate device, said circuit provided with a switch means, an electrical actuation means, comprising, a magnetic coil connected electrically to said main circuit and magnetized when the main switch is closed, a solenoid with a movable core, a first arm rigidly secured to said core. a contact point on said first arm, a second arm hingedly secured to said first arm, a contact point on said second arm capable of engagement with the contact point on said first arm, yielding means normally urging said contact points into engagement, said solenoid electrically connectible to said main circuit through said contact points, a time control means disposed in the electrical connection intermediate said solenoid and said contact points for breaking the electrical circuit to said solenoid, said core when the circuit is broken to said solenoid moving said first arm upwardly and at the same time said coil holding said second arm against said yielding means so that engagement between said contact point is broken, and said coi1 losing its magnetism when said switch is open whereby said yielding means returns said contact points to engagement with each other.

2. In combination with a main electric circuit used to operate a separate device, said circuit provided with a switch means, an electrical actuation means, comprising, an electrically influenced member connected electrically to said main circuit and energized when the main switch is closed, a solenoid with a movable core, a first arm rigidly secured to said core, a contact point on said first arm, a second arm hingedly secured to said first arm, a contact point on said second arm capable of engagement with the contact point on said first arm, yielding means normally urging said contact points into engagement, said solenoid electrically connectible to said main circuit through said contact points, a time control means disposed in the electrical connection intermediate said solenoid and said contact points for breaking the electrical circuit to said solenoid, said core when the circuit is broken to said solenoid moving said first arm upwardly and at the same time said electrically influenced member holding said second arm against said yielding means so that engagement between said contact points is broken, and said electrically influenced member becoming de-energized when said switch is open whereby said yielding means returns said contact points to engagement with each other.

3. In combination with a main electric circuit used to operate a separate device, said circuit provided with a switch means, an electrical actuation means, comprising, an electrically influenced member connected electrically to said main circuit and energized when the main switch is closed, a solenoid with a movable core, a first arm rigidly secured to said core, a contact point on said first arm, a second arm hingedly secured to said first arm, a contact point on said second arm capable of engagement with the contact point on said first arm, yielding means normally urging said contact points into engagement, said solenoid electrically connectible to said main circuit through said contact points, a time control means disposed in the electrical connection intermediate said solenoid and said contact points for breaking the electrical circuit to said solenoid, said core when the circuit is broken to said solenoid moving said first arm upwardly and at the same time said electrically influenced member holding said second arm against said yielding means so that engagement between said contact points is broken without interfering with the electrical connection between said switch and said separate device.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein the opening of the main switch de-energizes said electrically influenced member whereby said yielding means returns said contact points to engagement with each other and said solenoid can again be actuated when said switch closes.

5. An electrical actuation means comprising a solenoid with a movable core therein, said core being pulled to one position when electric current is supplied to the solenoid with the core returning to its original position when electric current is not supplied the solenoid, a thermostatically controlled switch member to close oii electric current to the solenoid after a predetermined time interval has elapsed and means for breaking the electrical circuit to the solenoid after the thermostatically controlled switch has closed off electric current to the solenoid including hinged arm members connected to said movable core, said arm members having oppositely disposed engageable contact points through which electric current fiows to the solenoid when the contact members are in engagement and the movement of said core when said solenoid is deenergized moving one of said arms to break the electric circuit in the solenoid.

6. In combination, an electrically operable member, a source of electric power for operating said electrically operable member, a switch for said electric power, a second member, means connected to said switch and connecting said second member to said source of electric power, time control means associated with said second member and said first means to close off electric power from said first means to said second member, said second member when electric power is closed oiT thereto acting on said first means to break its connection with said switch without interfering with the operation of said electrically operable member.

'7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said second member is actuated only once for a timed interval during each period of operation of said electrically operable member.

8. Ina device of the class described, an electrically operable member, a source of electric power for operating said electrically operable member, a switch for said electric power, a solenoid, means connected to said switch and connecting said solenoid to said source of electric power, a movable core in said solenoid, said core connected to said means connecting said solenoid to said electric power, said core being pulled to one position when electric power is supplied to the solenoid whereby it is capable of actuating any member to be actuated, said core returning to its original position when electric current is not supplied to the solenoid, a time controlled switch to close off electric power from said means to said solenoid after a predetermined time interval has elapsed, and the movement of said core when electric power is cut off to said solenoid acting on said means to break the connection between said means and said switch without interfering with the operation of said electrically operable member.

NELLIE CHURCHMAN, Executrza: of the estate of Russell 0. Churchman, 

